Chapter 28: The Day of Lavos
Act One
In the morning, Crono, Marle, Lucca, Glenn, Robo, and Ayla met in the lobby of the Sheraton. They had all cleaned up and dressed in their modern twenty-first century attire. Lavos would erupt sometime in the afternoon; all they could do was wait.
The Clines came down soon thereafter.
"Well everyone," Mary Ellen began, "today's the day."
Crono nodded. He knew it was coming, yet he still felt apprehensive.
Marle, sensing this, held his hand for support.
"You guys ready?" Gehrig inquired.
"I think so," Crono replied. "We know its nose is the weak point."
"Good," Gehrig complimented. "The nose is indeed the weak point. Once that's destroyed, what the shell conceals will be vulnerable."
"Good to know," Lucca said.
The Clines then noticed who was missing.
"Where's Magus?" Gehrig asked.
"We haven't seen him," Crono answered. "He seems to have disappeared."
Everyone began to feel suspicious, especially Lucca. She figured she may as well tell everyone what had happened.
"I saw him last night," she began.
Mary Ellen gave a naughty smirk.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she inquired.
"No," sighed Lucca. "It wasn't that. He went down to where the Epoch was, and then came right back up again. He didn't steal it. I checked."
"I'm still suspicious," Crono said. "It sounds to me like he brought something from another time. Or someone."
"Maybe to help fight Lavos?" Ayla suggested.
"I doubt it," Crono dismissed. "Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone off."
"Something's up," Glenn added. "I never trusted him, even when he reduced his curse on me. After all, he joined us to destroy Lavos, not to make friends."
"Good point," Crono agreed. "He did something last night for sure. What it was remains to be seen."
"I'll stay in the lobby and let you know if he turns up," Mary Ellen offered.
"Thanks," Crono said.
"But how are we going to pass the time while waiting for Lavos to erupt?" Marle asked.
"There's a Barnes and Noble up the street," Gehrig replied.
"Who's Barnes the Nobleman?" asked Glenn. "Can he help us?"
Gehrig giggled and placed a hand on his shoulder in a flirty manner.
"It's a bookseller," she laughed.
MEANWHILE….
"Thanks for bringing us here," Ozzie said as Magus stood before him, Slash, and Flea in the utility room of the Burger King next to the Sheraton.
"I didn't bring you here to be kind," Magus dismissed. "We have some enemies to eliminate."
"Over 1,400 years in the future?" Ozzie inquired, out of bewilderment.
"I will be the one who destroys Lavos," Magus insisted. "And to make sure of it, I'll kill Crono and his friends in a final showdown."
"Six against four?" Slash inquired skeptically. "They already beat us back at the castle."
"We were divided," Magus replied. "That was the problem from the start. This time, we'll stick together. Their magic is almost worthless compared to mine."
"Are you sure they'll come for us?" Flea asked. "I thought they were only interested in Lavos."
"They'll come," Magus assured him. "Once they discover my captive."
Slash, Flea, and Ozzie turned to said captive in the corner.
It was Gaspar.
And he was bound and gagged.
Act Two
Crono, Marle, Lucca, Glenn, Ayla, and Robo sat around one of the larger tables at the downstairs cafe of the two-story Barnes and Noble, next to the Petsmart and across from the Dick's Sporting Goods. A television was on, tuned into CNN, but nothing Lavos-related had yet been reported.
The wait seemed much longer than it actually had been. They did everything they could to keep the impending situation to themselves to avoid causing a panic.
On the table sat several books that Gehrig had picked out herself. It was her way of creating the calm before the storm.
Marle was checking one of the books out with a look of uncertainty.
"What are you reading?" Crono asked.
"This one's called Fifty Shades of Grey," Marle replied.
"That's a bestseller," Gehrig announced. "You'll see why in a few moments."
And then, suddenly, Marle's eyes widened in shock.
"What's wrong?" Crono asked.
"This is sick!" she exclaimed. "They're allowed to write books about that?!"
"Books about what?" asked Crono as their twenty-first century companion began to giggle.
"This guy Christian and some girl named Anastasia!" Marle continued. "They're fornicating! And they're not married! Please tell me you're reading something better than this!"
"There's no fornication in this book," Crono informed her.
"What's it about?" Marle asked.
"This book's about magic," Crono replied. "These kids have to learn to use it, too. But it's kind of like in Zeal. They kind of look down on people who can't use magic."
"What's that book called?" Lucca asked.
"Umm...Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," Crono replied.
"Are they in the sky, too?" asked Marle.
Crono shook his head.
"They're in this castle called Hogwarts. They're trying to stop some creature called Voldemort from returning."
"Is it a giant hedgehog that shoots fire streams from its back?" asked Lucca.
"I don't know," Crono replied. "I haven't gotten that far."
And then, he began to laugh as he eyed the cover.
"What's so funny?" Lucca demanded.
"Lucca!" Crono exclaimed. "He kind of looks like you!"
Lucca took one look at the cover and sighed.
Suddenly, the ground began to rumble. The sound of glass and dishes shaking came from behind the counter. The patrons around the cafe started to panic.
Marle immediately began to grab Crono's arm.
Glenn drew the Masamune.
Ayla cracked her knuckles.
"This is it!" Lucca announced. "No turning back now!"
They rose to their feet.
And then, the rumbling stopped.
Everyone stood silently, waiting for something Lavos-related to happen.
But nothing did.
"I'm detecting seismic activity," Robo announced. "But this isn't right."
"What do you mean?" Ayla inquired.
"The epicenter isn't anywhere near here! It's at…latitude 37.1038 north, longitude 47.1782 west!"
"That's the middle of the Atlantic!" Gehrig exclaimed as she pulled out her cell phone. "Lavos was supposed to erupt at the intersection of Lincoln Highway and Oxford Valley Road. Just down the street from here."
"Were we wrong?" Lucca exclaimed.
"I don't think it's Lavos," Robo answered. "It's something else."
Suddenly, the television had changed; a white-haired news anchor now appeared on the screen.
"We interrupt this program to bring you this special presentation," the anchor announced.
"If it's not Lavos," Crono said, "then what is it?"
"Beats me," Gehrig replied.
"A few minutes ago," the white-haired news anchor continued, "the Gerald R. Ford Aircraft Carrier observed this unidentified object rising out of the Atlantic Ocean."
The screen then cut to the object.
The first thing that everyone could see was that it was triangular shaped. It was black, with red lights illuminating its exterior. It was almost the size of a small city. It looked nothing like anything anyone had seen before.
It was clearly a man-made vessel.
"What's that?!" exclaimed Marle.
Glenn had seen some of the structural features before, and recalled exactly what it had reminded him of.
"The Ocean Palace?!" he exclaimed.
Meanwhile, the television cut to a dark-skinned man with a mustache, wearing a vest with stars on it.
"There is zero chance this could have been built by any government with present day technology," he announced. "We need more information, of course, but the question of whether we are alone in the universe might be answered today."
Lucca turned to Glenn.
"Haven't you forgotten? The Ocean Palace was destroyed!"
"Did we see any ruins?" Glenn retorted. "Then the Palace could have survived somehow."
"Everyone," Robo suddenly interjected, "the vessel is already moving in our direction. E.T.A. in half an hour."
"It's that fast?!" exclaimed Marle.
"Let's go for it," Crono suddenly announced. "We have something even faster."
"Are you crazy?" Lucca dismissed. "Six of us went into the Ocean Palace before, and only five of us came out!"
"We have to take that chance," Crono replied. "For all we know, the Ocean Palace could be what wakes Lavos up! Look, if it feels better, we won't call it the Ocean Palace anymore. We'll call it…"
Marle suddenly recalled the color of the vessel's exterior.
"The Black Omen!" she interjected.
"That'll work," Crono said.
THIRTY MINUTES LATER….
Crono, Marle, Lucca, Glenn, Robo, and Ayla walked out of Barnes and Noble to find the Black Omen hovering above the Best Buy to the west. Other than the vertical bobbing, it remained stationary, as if it was waiting for something.
"Well," Crono began, "we can't keep it waiting."
"But how do we get up there?" Lucca asked.
"Lucca!" Marle replied. "Don't turn off your brain yet! We have a time machine that flies!"
"Someone has to pilot it up there," Lucca reminded her. "And therefore only five of us can go in. Someone has to be ready to rescue us in case something happens."
And then, a strange, loud, and high-pitched sound came from the Black Omen. It wasn't piercing, but it was odd enough to draw everyone's attention.
And then, the sound ended. A few moments later, it was replaced by a female voice.
"Foolish mortals," the voice announced. "You have advanced to your full limits. Your judgement will begin shortly. Soon is the hour of your demise."
It was a voice nobody had ever heard before.
Save for six.
"Zeal," muttered Crono.
"So she survived," Lucca observed.
"Today is the Day of Lavos," the queen continued. "Soon, Lavos will erupt from the ground and bring destruction to you all! This is the end of you!"
"Crono!" exclaimed Marle. "It was her!"
"Are you sure?" Lucca asked. "It could still be erupting naturally."
Marle turned to Gehrig.
"Have you seen anything out of the ordinary lately?" she asked.
"I know there's a Billie Eilish concert coming up in Core Creek Park next week," Gehrig replied. "But, otherwise, no."
"Any earthquakes lately?" Marle then asked.
"We haven't had an earthquake here since 2011," Mary Ellen replied.
"I think it's obvious," Crono observed.
Act Three
The helicopter landed gently on the Black Omen as Magus, Ozzie, Gaspar, Slash, and Flea hopped out. The pilot of the helicopter, which had been "borrowed" from a nearby hospital, sighed in relief as they departed. He didn't take them there by choice; Magus kept a blade to his neck to make sure he complied.
Meanwhile, Magus marched straight to the entrance. There were six menacing guard-eyes, but he ignored them.
Suddenly, a small beam of light began to scan him.
"Genetic pattern recognized," a voice said as the door slid open. "Welcome back, Prince Janus."
As soon as they got inside with their prisoner, a very familiar face presented herself to them.
"Prophet!" exclaimed Queen Zeal. "How dare you return to me!"
"I am not here to serve as your prophet anymore," Magus insisted.
"That would be an understatement!" hissed the queen. "Why would you return to me, knowing I would kill you for your treachery?!"
"Do you remember those people who sabotaged the Ocean Palace?" Magus immediately inquired.
"Of course I remember!" Queen Zeal replied.
"They are alive in this time period. They're out to destroy Lavos," Magus continued. "I can put a stop to that."
"I killed one of them," Queen Zeal reminded him.
"They found Lavos' weak point," Magus warned. "If they destroy it, you will grow old and die."
The queen was silent. Although she presented Lavos as a diety, she was well aware that it was mortal.
"They know it's face is it's vulnerable spot," Magus continued.
"What do you want?" Queen Zeal inquired.
"Refuge," Magus requested. "Until they arrive. Then, we will kill them."
"And what guarantee do you have that they'll come?" the queen demanded.
"Ransom," he replied as he displayed his prisoner.
"Gaspar!" Queen Zeal greeted.
"Your majesty," Gaspar politely addressed, although he had nothing but contempt for her.
"You've annoyed me for countless years," the queen declared. "I would very much like to kill you myself."
"Yes, your majesty," the defeated Gaspar said.
"But it appears I need you for a small while longer."
MEANWHILE….
"This is crazy!" Gehrig exclaimed as she sat in the Epoch's cockpit. "I never thought I would fly this thing for real!"
Gehrig had been elected to pilot the epoch to the Black Omen, both so she could rescue anyone, and so she could keep the time machine out of harm's way.
"It's not that hard," Crono assured her.
"I want my mom!" Gehrig cried.
"I'm right here!" Mary Ellen, who had also hitched a ride, called back.
"Are you okay?" Robo asked.
"I don't even like to fly in a plane!" Gehrig cried.
Despite the tension, Gehrig was able to lift the Epoch off of the ground and fly it straight to the surface of the Black Omen.
Everyone was impressed.
"How did you know how to fly that thing?" Mary Ellen inquired.
"You just pull the joystick towards you to go up," Gehrig replied. "Same as flying a plane."
"You flew a plane?" Mary Ellen exclaimed.
"No," Gehrig dismissed. "But I heard it from my friend, Jen Bollinger. Jen heard it from her friend, Kim Bergen. And Kim heard it from her friend, Rachel Ertz, and Rachel heard it from a Karen, and the Karen heard it from a pilot."
"I guess you can take their word," Mary Ellen sighed. "At least everyone but the Karen. I wouldn't trust a Karen with my life."
Meanwhile, everyone began to disembark.
"So should I wait here?" Gehrig asked.
"Just leave it back at the hotel," Crono said. "We'll pick it up when we're done."
"Godspeed, you guys!" Gehrig wished.
Crono, Marle, Lucca, Glenn, Ayla, and Robo thus left the Epoch and headed for what appeared to be the main door.
"Alright," Gehrig announced. "Let's get back to the hotel. I need to get there ASAP after that flight."
"You need comfort food?" Mary Ellen asked.
"No," sighed Gehrig. "I need to change my pants."
"Ew," Mary Ellen groaned.
THE STUFF THAT MIGHT HAVE GONE UNNOTICED...
Characters named Gehrig and Mary Ellen also appear in Premonitions II: Crisis Core. Whether the entities from both stores are one and the same remains to be explained.
Guess Who: Guidelines and liability issues prohibit real-life celebrities that appear in stories to be named, but feel free to speculate: a white-haired CNN reporter, and a dark-skinned astronomer with a mustache.
